Patent GB-1238486-A (GB)
IPC: G09F11/02
Filed: 1968-05-14
Abstract: 1,238,486. Multiple drum display device. BERIOLA MACHINE CO. PTY. Ltd. 14 May, 1968 [18 May, 1967], No. 22923/68. Heading A6H. The invention comprises a rotatable multiple drum display device comprising (Figure 2) an assembly shaft 7 suitably supported in a frame 9; five drum assemblies 10 are rotatably mounted side by side on shaft 7, each drum assembly having around the outer peripheral face thereof a plurality of different characters or cards, and a hub unit 12 connected to the rim 11 of the drum by a medial web 13. Each hub unit 12 (Fig. 3) comprises an inner driving member 14 and an annular outer driven member 15; tangential circumferential grooves 16 are formed in each driving member 14 which is a clearance fit within the bore 17 of the driven member 15; balls or rollers 18 are loosely accommodated in the grooves 16; each member 14 is rigidly secured to the shaft 7 which may be rotated by a crank arm 19. When the arm 19 is pulled down the balls 18 lock the members 14 and 15 together so that the drums 10 rotate; when the downward movement of the arm ceases the balls 18 will release the member 15 from the member 14 and the drums can continue to spin by virtue of the momentum acquired initially from the movement of the arm. The actuating handle (not shown) when pulled by the operator causes a displacement of a large lever 20, which is pivotally attached at 22 to the frame 9 and which is provided with an integral rack 23 in association with pawl 24 (Fig. 1) so that a full stroke of said lever is achieved each time the actuating handle is pulled. A spring loaded trigger 25 is pivotally secured to the arm 26 of lever 20. A hub member 28 is rigidly secured to a second transverse shaft 27 and an axially slidable abutment 29 is secured within the hub 28, a solenoid 30 is secured to hub 28 and its armature is secured to abutment 29 by link 31. With the solenoid 30 in the position shown in Figure 1 the abutment 29 lies in the path of trigger 25 so that movement of 20 will cause angular displacement of the hub 28 and shaft 27. As the lever 20 is depressed by movement of the actuating handle the arms 19 and 32 will be raised against the action of the spring 34; the balls 18 permit the members 14 to move without rotating the drums. Near the limit of the movement of the lever 20 the trigger 25 releases the abutment 29 so that spring 34 pulls the arm 32 back down onto the stop 35. The drums 10 commence to spin freely after the levers 19 and 32 have come to rest. The spinning drums are brought to rest by means of a star wheel 36 secured to each drum in conjunction with crank levers 37. The first arm 39 of each lever 37 extends forwardly over the armature 40 of five vertically mounted solenoids 41. The springs 42 loading the arms 39 on to the solenoids 41. The other vertical arm 43 of the cranks 37 extend to a position adjacent to the corresponding star wheel. A block 44 secured to each arm 43 is drawn into aperture 45 by the spring 42 when the solenoid armatures 40 are retracted to permit it. When a coin is inserted into the machine the solenoid 30 is energised so that abutment 29 is moved into the path of the trigger 25. The actuating handle when depressed arms the machine so that the drums 10 can be actuated by the spring 34 when trigger 25 diengages; at the same time each solenoid 41 is also energised so that the blocks 44 are withdrawn from the star wheel to release all drums 10. The solenoids 41 are then progressively de-energised and their associated drums 10 being halted by the blocks 44 entering the appropriate star-wheel. A modification is also described having a modified hub unit.